Closure for bags, pouches and the like



Dec. 29, 1964 A. E. LAMARTHE 3,163,193

CLOSURE FOR BAGS, POUCHES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Shget 1 INVENTOR ALFRED EDOUARD LAMARTHE BY MW ATTORNEY.

Dec. 29, 1964 A. E. LAMARTHE 3,163,193

CLOSURE FOR BAGS, POUCHES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR ALFRED EDOUARD LAMARTHE ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3 163,193 CLOURE F012 BAGS, PQUCEES AND THE TAKE Alfred Edouard Lamarthe, Paris, France, assignor to John 3. Treaey & Co., Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 316,392 4 Claims. (0. fill-ill) The present invention relates to a closure for bags, pouches and the like.

Closures are known, which comprise two adjacent spring blades of substantially equal length and extending parallel to each other in a common plane in closed position of the bag and the material of the bag surrounds and covers the spring blades. The latter are hingedly connected at their corresponding ends by means of a single latch and on one face of the two spring blades only, which latches extend, in the closed position of the bag, crosswise to the longitudinal axis of the spring blades, while in the open position of the bag the latches are disposed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the spring blades. Each of the latches is secured to the spring blades by means of rivets extending through the latches, as well as through the spring blades, which structure is clearly disclosed in applicants own French Patent No. 1,269,718.

In order to open the bag, its upper edges are gripped and turned such that the corresponding end faces of the two spring blades engage each other. Upon such turning of the spring blades, the latter define a large oval opening at the top of the bag.

Due to the fact that one latch only is pivotally connected with the end portions of the two spring blades, it cannot be avoided that a relative longitudinal movement of the spring blades in opposite directions can occur in the closed position of the bag of known structure, whereby a dislocation of the upper portion of the bag would be brought about.

Since the spring blades and the latches are made of metal and are in permanent engagement with each other, a high friction occurs between the blades and the latches during the turning movement of the spring blades, which friction is particularly increased upon bending the spring blades. Due to this friction, a considerable wear of the latches and of the ends of the spring blades is brought about already after a short time period of use, leading to an early inoperativeness of the known structure.

it is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a closure for bags, pouches and the like, wherein the drawbacks of the known structures are avoided.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a closure for bags, pouches and the like, which comprises two spring blades disposed parallel to each other in a common plane in the closing position of the closure, and U-shaped end members connect the respective ends of the spring blades such that leg portions of the U- shaped end members are disposed parallel and adjacent to as well as in pivot connection with the end portions of the spring blades.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a closure for bags, pouches and the like, which comprises a structure as set forth in the previous object and wherein the front ends of the legs or" the U-shaped member are bridged over by a tongue, which extends between the two spring blades and engages, in closed position of the bag, two projections provided either on the spring blades or on shoes mounted on the end portions of the spring blades, and which projections extend towards each other, in order to provide an abutment against a relative longitudinal movement of the spring blades in opposite directions, in the closed position of the bag.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a closure for bags, pouches and the like, wherein washers of a material having a favorable small friction characteristic, for example, of an artificial plastic material, as nylon, are disposed between the inner faces of leg portions of a U-shaped member and the end portions of said spring blades or shoes mounted on the latter.

With these and other objects in View, which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bag provided with a closure according to the present invention in closed position with parts of the bag matenial broken away for clear showing;

FIG. 2 is a perspecitve view of the bag in its open position with parts of the bag material broken away;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective View of the parts constituting one end of the closure;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of the closure and the bag shown in closed position; and

FIG. 7 is a section taken along the lines 7--7 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, the closure is attached to a bag 1, whose upper edges 2 and 3 are folded backwardly on the respective faces of the bag 1 to form loops 2 and 3', respectively, for example by a seam 4.

The closure designed in accordance with the present invention comprises two spring blades 5 and 6 of substantially equal length. Each end of the spring blades 5 and 6 is connected with the corresponding end of the other spring blades by means of a U-shaped member 7 consisting of a base 7' and leg members 10. The latter are equipped with two bores 9 aligned across the U- shaped member, which bores 9 in each of the leg members 10 are disposed spaced apart from each other along an imaginary line extending preferably substantially parallel to the base 7' of the Urshaped member 7. The ends of the spring blades 5 and 6 are also equipped with a bore 11 (FIG. 3), and upon insertion of the corresponding ends of the spring blades 5 and 6 between the opposite leg members 10 of each of the U-shaped members 7, a rivet 8 is inserted through the aligned bores 9 and also through the bore 11 of the spring blades 5 and 6, thereby providing a pivot connection between the ends of the spring blades 5 and 6 and the U-shaped members 7. By this arrangement the spring blades 5 and 6 are maintained parallel and in superposed position relative to each other.

Preferably, the ends of the spring blades 5 and 6 are equipped with shoes 12, which comprise a small narrow housing open at one end to receive the ends of the spring blades 5 and 6. If such shoes 12 are provided, these shoes 12 have likewise bores (not shown) in the opposite walls thereof to be aligned with the bore 11 at the ends of the spring blades 5 and 6.

Washers 13 of an artificial, wear resistant and friction reducing material, as nylon, and having also central bores aligned with the bores in the side walls of the shoes 12 are provided to engage the outer faces of each of theside walls of the latter. Eyelets 14 or similar means extend through the bores of the washers 13, through the bores of the shoes 12 and finally also through the bores 11 of the end portions of the spring blades 5 and 6. The rivets 8 are inserted through the bores 9 of the leg members 1t and through the eyelets 14 after the end portions of the spring blades 5 and 6 with the shoes 12 and the 3 washers 13 are received 'in the space defined between leg members'10 of the U-shaped member 7. The washthe ers 13 are in engagement with. the inner faces of the a leg members 10 lot the U-shaped members 7,'thereby reducing the previouslyexperiencedf-riction. between the spring blades 5 and 6 and the Ll shaped member 7 during shifting of the closure from itsiclosing position into its 7 opening position, so that only 'a .neglectable wear occurs first extendsin .the direction of the' leg member 16 to which it is attached .and which prior to assembly of the closure is bent over forabout 90, as indicated by the arrow 20 into corresponding recess 18 arranged at the of the shoes 12 is provided with a projection 19 extending V 7 from the lateral end face of one'of the shoes towards the;

gage the inner face 16 of the U,-shaped member 7 Thus,

the spring blades 5 and 6 assume a self-locking position due to the fact that the spring blades 5 and 6 must pass at first again the straight line position before they can assume again the parallel, superposed position in the closing stage of the closure. Only by exertion of an ap:

preciable force in closing direction, can the springs 5 and 6 be turned backwardly beyond the dead'point position.

Thus an undesired closing of the, bag 1 by accidentally moving its upper edges 2 and 3 in the opening. position of the bag 1 is prevented and the danger of injuring the hand or the fingers of the user of the bag 1 between the suddently closing spring bladesS and 6 is eliminated.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense, the

, scope of the present invention being determined by the lateral end face of theother of the shoes '12 in frontof the outer front'face of the tonguea17. As can be readily seen from FIG. 6, the two projections 19, extending in opposite directions towards each'other from the adjacent shoes I12,"engage the lateral end faces, and the outer front face of the tongue 17 of the U-shaped member-7 of the closing position of the closure. Thus a relative longitudinal movement of the spring blades5 and 6 in opposite directions is not possible in the closing positionofthe bag; During the opening operation of the closure, the shoes 12 and thereby also theirflprojections 19 and also the spring blades Sand 6 are moved outwardly in opposite directionsraway from the tongue17,-in order to assume.

the end. to end position of the spring blades 5 and 6% shown in FIG. 7.

In order-toopeh the bag 1 the center portions of the two spring blades 5 and 6 covered with materialv are turned in opposite directions, whereby the ends of ,the

spring blades;5"and 6 areturned in the .U-shaped members 7 .and shift from the position shown in FIG; 1 into the position shown in FIGUZ. During such shifting move-' 'mentof the closure, the end portions of thespring blades 5 and .6 turn about the rivets 8 from a parallel position into an end to end position, whereby a large oval, nearly circular opening .(FIG. 2) of the upper edges 2 and 3 of the bag 1 -is brought about; The closing of the'bag isiachieved bya reverse operation of the spring blades 5-and6.' d

' Upon assuming the opening position of the closure, the Y lateral end faces 15 of'the shoes'12 areeither nearly in engagement with .or adjacent to the innerface 16 .of the base 7 of the U-shaped members 7, sothat the inner face 16 operates as an abutment against a further turning movement of the shoes 12 and of the spring blades 5 -and-6. 'Thus it is prevented that the spring blades 5 and 6 can snap over beyond the opening position of theflclosure. As can be readily seen from FIG. 7, the lateral end faces 15 of-the shoes 12 are spaced apart from the inner face '16 of. the U-shapcd member'7'in the opening-position, so that it is possible to continue the opening 'movethe spring blades 5 and 6 are slightly upwardly unclined from their pivoting axes'constituted by the rivetsS and in which position the lateral end faces 15 of the shoes 12 enobjects and the claims.

I claim: 7

1. 'Aclosure-for bags, pouches or the like comprising two'spring blades disposed parallel to each other in superposed position, in the closing position of said closure, and inan end to end position, in the opening position of said closure, respectively,

a U-shaped member-disposed at each end of said spring blades and having abase and'two oppositely disposed leg members spaced apart from each other, the ends of said spring blades beingreceived between said leg members, l

pivot means for connecting the adjacent endsof said spring blades to said -U-shaped member after being received between said leg members, and

a washer of. friction reducing material disposed between v .theend'portions'of said'spring blades and the inner faces of said leg members,

7 said base'of said U-shaped member being spaced apart from the lateral end face of said spring blades in the opening position of .said closure, in order topermit a turning of said spring blades into an inclined, locking position after passing the completely straight position of .both said spring blades, and said base operating as a limiting means for movement of said spring blades into said inclined, locking position.

. The closure, as set forth in claim 1, which includes a shoe mounted on eachiend portion of said spring blades and'said' washeris disposed between outer lateral faces of said shoe and the inner faces of said leg members. I

3. The closure, as set forth inclaim2, which includes an eyelet extending through and securing together said washers, the side walls of said shoe and the end portion of each of said spring blades,-and

said pivot means comprises a rivet extending through said eyelet and through said leg members.

4. The closure, as set forth in claim2, which includes a tongue member disposed at the front edge of said leg members, and across said U-shaped member, and said shoes have a projection extending toward each other and engaging and at least partly surrounding said tonguemember in the closing position of said spring blades, thereby preventing a relative 1on gitudinal-movement of the spring blades in opposite 1 directions.

References Cited by the Examiner 1 FOREIGN PATENTS 502,169 4/51 Belgium. FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CLOSURE FOR BAGS, POUCHES OR THE LIKE COMPRISING TWO SPRING BLADES DISPOSED PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER IN SUPERPOSED POSITION, IN THE CLOSING POSITION OF SAID CLOSURE, AND IN AN END TO END POSITION, IN THE OPENING POSITION OF SAID CLOSURE, RESPECTIVELY A U-SHAPED MEMBER DISPOSED AT EACH END OF SAID SPRING BLADES AND HAVING A BASE AND TWO OPPOSITELY DISPOSED LEG MEMBERS SPACED APART FROM EACH OTHER, THE ENDS OF SAID SPRING BLADES BEING RECEIVED BETWEEN SAID LEG MEMBERS, PIVOT MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID SPRING BLADES TO SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER AFTER BEING RECEIVED BETWEEN SAID LEG MEMBERS, AND A WASHER OF FRICTION REDUCING MATERIAL DISPOSED BETWEEN THE END PORTIONS OF SAID SPRING BLADES AND THE INNER FACES OF SAID LEG MEMBERS, SAID BASE OF SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER BEING SPACED APART FROM THE LATERAL END FACE OF SAID SPRING BLADES IN THE OPENING POSITION OF SAID CLOSURE, IN ORDER TO PERMIT A TURNING OF SAID SPRING BLADES INTO AN INCLINED, LOCKING POSITION AFTER PASSING THE COMPLETELY STRAIGHT POSITION OF BOTH SAID SPRING BLADES, AND SAID BASE OPERATING AS A LIMITING MEANS FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID SPRING BLADES INTO SAID INCLINED, LOCKING POSITION. 